U.S. patent application number 13/059322 was filed with the patent office on 2011-08-04 for optically open stacked type subminiature optical device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Partron Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Tae Ho Kil, Hyun Su Kim, Hyung Ju Kim, Ho June Seo.
Application Number | 20110188253 13/059322 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40861924 |
Filed Date | 2011-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110188253 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Hyun Su ; et
al. |
August 4, 2011 |
Optically Open Stacked Type Subminiature Optical Device
Abstract
An optically open stacked type subminiature optical device
according to the present invention has an independent aperture stop
structure to enable designing of a stable small optical device
having an optical open cover structure, thus improving optical
performance. Further, the optically open stacked type subminiature
optical device of the present invention is configured in that the
aperture stop structure is assembled with another structure into a
stacked structure to establish a stable assembly together with the
cover structure, thereby allowing for ease of assembly and
improving productivity.
Inventors: |
Kim; Hyun Su; ( Gyeonggi-do,
KR) ; Kim; Hyung Ju; (Gyeonggi-do, KR) ; Seo;
Ho June; (Seoul, KR) ; Kil; Tae Ho;
(Gyeonggi-do, KR) |
Assignee: |
Partron Co., Ltd.
Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do
KR
|
Family ID: |
40861924 |
Appl. No.: |
13/059322 |
Filed: |
December 31, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
December 31, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2009/008023 |
371 Date: |
April 12, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/296.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/042 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/296.01 |
International
Class: |
F21V 7/00 20060101
F21V007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 6, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0000676 |
Claims
1. An optically open stacked type subminiature optical device,
comprising: a light source and a light receiving sensor mounted on
a PCB; a darkroom structure installed on the PCB in such a way that
the darkroom structure can cover the light receiving sensor and
light thrown on the light receiving sensor can pass through the
darkroom structure; a composite lens and prism structure, which is
stacked on an upper end of the darkroom structure and condenses
light from the light source to an objective plane, and condenses
the light reflected by the objective plane to the light receiving
sensor; a cover structure made of a semitransparent material and
forming the objective plane in an uppermost end of the optical
device, the cover structure being mounted to the PCB in such a way
that the cover structure can cover both the composite lens and
prism structure and the darkroom structure; and an aperture
structure having a plate shape and mounted on an upper end of the
composite lens and prism structure inside the cover structure, the
aperture structure intercepting diffused light from the objective
plane of the cover structure and having open holes for allowing
both light passing through the composite lens and prism structure
and being thrown on the objective plane and light reflected by the
objective plane to pass therethrough.
2. The optically open stacked type subminiature optical device as
set forth in claim 1, wherein the darkroom structure, the composite
lens and prism structure and the cover structure are stacked and
assembled with each other, in which a boss protrudes from one of
facing structures and a hole is formed in another structure of the
facing structures so as to be combined with the boss.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to an optical device
installed in a mobile device, such as a mobile communication
terminal, and used as a subminiature pointing device or an input
device and, more particularly, to a subminiature optical device
which is suitable for being used in an optically open touch type
optical mouse.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] FIG. 1 shows an optical device including a lens/lens pipe
structure 50, which is used for throwing light radiated from a
light source 10 on an objective plane 30 that forms a lower surface
of the optical device; and a chip package housing 60, which
functions as an outermost cover of an optical device module and
collaterally functions as a sensor protective structure and as a
light receiving aperture placed beyond a reflected light receiving
lens. The above-mentioned structure of the optical device was
designed to be used in a mouse for a typical personal computer. In
the optical device having the above-mentioned structure, the body
of the optical device can intercept light diffused from the
outside, so that the function of intercepting the diffused light
has not been deemed an important factor in the optical device.
However, when the objective plane is located in an upper surface
instead of a lower surface of the optical device, whether the
diffused light from the outside of the optical device can be
intercepted or not is considered to be a very important factor, as
shown in FIG. 8.
[0003] An optical device shown in FIG. 2 (disclosed in Korean
Patent No. 10-0700507) includes: a lens structure 120 defining an
optical path for light radiated from a light source 100; an
objective plane 140 on which a material to be sensed is placed; a
lens protective structure 130 for protecting the lens structure 120
and intercepting light diffused from the outside; a sensor 150 for
sensing light reflected by the material placed on the objective
plane 140; a sensor cover structure 110 for protecting the sensor
150 and controlling the quantity of light received by the sensor
150; and a PCB 160 on which the light source 100, the sensor 150
and the sensor cover structure 110 are mounted.
[0004] Here, the lens structure 120 includes an illumination
optical unit for condensing and transmitting the light radiated
from the light source 100 and a light receiving unit for throwing
the light, which has been reflected by the material placed on the
objective plane 140, onto the sensor 150.
[0005] In the optical devices, such as the optical device disclosed
in the Korean patent, the light radiated from the light source 100,
such as an LED, is condensed by the illumination optical unit and
is thrown onto the objective plane 140. When the light has reached
the objective plane 140, the image of the material placed on the
objective plane 140 is transmitted to the sensor 150 by way of an
imaging lens 121 of the light receiving unit, so that the sensor
can produce a signal.
[0006] FIGS. 3 and 4 are exploded perspective views of conventional
optical devices (subminiature optical mice) which are the same kind
of the optical device disclosed in the above-mentioned Korean
patent. As shown in the drawings, in each of the optical devices, a
tape 350' or 350'' is attached to a window made of a transparent
acrylic material inside a cover structure 340' or 340'', thus
intercepting diffused light from the outside. In FIG. 3, the
reference numeral 380' denotes a body of the optical device having
a PCB.
[0007] In the above-mentioned optically open type optical devices,
the structure for intercepting the diffused light using the tape
350', 350'' is advantageous in that it can avoid interference with
another interior structure and can realize a thin structure.
However, the above-mentioned optically open type optical devices
are problematic in that it is difficult to form an optical
structure, such as an aperture stop, on the tape and it is
difficult to assemble the elements in precise locations required by
a precise optical device. Therefore, in the related art, it has
been required to provide an aperture stop structure, which can
realize a design of a stable subminiature optical device having an
improved optical performance.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0008] The present invention is intended to design an optical
device, which can realize smallness of a conventional optical
pointing device and can realize a reliable optical opening and
closing function, and is intended to provide an optically open
stacked type subminiature optical device, in which a structure
including an aperture stop structure is installed so that interior
structures can have desired optical intercepting functions and
respective desired optical transmitting functions, thereby
designing the outermost cover structure in the form of an optically
open stacked structure and realizing a stable subminiature optical
device, and improving the optical performance of the optical
device.
[0009] Further, the present invention serves to provide an
optically open stacked type subminiature optical device, in which
the aperture stop structure is assembled with another structure
into a stacked structure, thus forming a stable assembly structure
and realizing ease of assembly and improving productivity.
Technical Solution
[0010] In an aspect, the present invention provides an optically
open stacked type subminiature optical device, including: a light
source and a light receiving sensor separately installed on a PCB;
a darkroom structure installed on the PCB so as to cover the light
receiving sensor and, at the same time, configured to pass
therethrough light going to the light receiving sensor; a composite
lens and prism structure stacked on the upper end of the darkroom
structure and condensing the light radiated from the light source
to an objective plane, and condensing the light reflected by the
objective plane onto the light receiving sensor; a cover structure
made of a semitransparent material and forming the objective plane
in an upper part of the optical device, the cover structure being
mounted on the PCB in such a way that the cover structure can cover
the composite lens and prism structure and the darkroom structure;
and an aperture structure configured as a plate structure and
stacked on the upper end of the composite lens and prism structure
inside the cover structure, the aperture structure having open
holes, which can intercept diffused light from the objective plane
of the cover structure, yet allowing both the light passing through
the composite lens and prism structure and the light reflected by
the objective plane to pass therethrough.
[0011] Here, the aperture structure may include: a first hole
having an open structure for allowing the light passing through the
composite lens and prism structure to be transmitted to the
objective plane of the cover structure; and a second hole located
at a location spaced apart from the first hole and allowing the
light reflected by the objective plane of the cover structure to
pass therethrough.
[0012] Here, the first hole may be rectangular, while the second
hole may be circular.
[0013] Further, the composite lens and prism structure and the
aperture structure may be configured to be combined with each
other. In other words, a locking boss may protrude from the
composite lens and prism structure, while the aperture structure
may be provided with a locking hole, into which the locking boss is
inserted so that the composite lens and prism structure and the
aperture structure can be combined with each other. Of course,
another combination structure, which is the reverse of the
above-mentioned structure, may be realized.
[0014] The composite lens and prism structure may include a
condensing prism for condensing light radiated from the light
source onto the objective plane, in which, when an inclined
reflexive surface is formed in the condensing prism, the aperture
structure may be provided with an inclined protrusion at a portion
on which the aperture structure comes into contact with the
inclined reflexive surface, the inclined protrusion being formed by
inclinedly protruding from the aperture structure.
[0015] Further, the aperture structure may be made of at least one
of silicone, epoxy and synthetic resin materials or a mixture of at
least two of them.
[0016] Further, the darkroom structure, the composite lens and
prism structure and the aperture structure may be sequentially
stacked and assembled in the cover structure in such a way that the
darkroom structure is assembled with the composite lens and prism
structure, and the composite lens and prism structure is assembled
with the aperture structure.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS
[0017] As described above, the optically open stacked type
subminiature optical device according to the present invention has
an independent aperture stop structure so that a stable
subminiature optical device can be designed that has an optical
open cover structure, thus having improved optical performance.
[0018] Further, the optically open stacked type subminiature
optical device of the present invention is configured in that the
aperture stop structure is assembled with another structure into a
stacked structure to establish a stable assembly together with the
cover structure, thereby allowing for ease of assembly and
improving productivity.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the construction of an
optical mouse for a personal computer according to prior art;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a view showing the internal construction of an
integrated subminiature optical device according to one of the
prior patents;
[0021] FIGS. 3 and 4 are exploded perspective views showing
conventional light intercepting structures capable of intercepting
ambient light rays using light intercepting tapes;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an optically open
subminiature optical device according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0023] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the optically open
subminiature optical device according to the embodiment of the
present invention;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective projection view showing the
installation of an aperture stop structure in the assembled optical
device according to the embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0025] FIG. 8 is a view of an optical device having no aperture
stop structure, showing ambient light rays entering the optical
device.
BEST MODE
[0026] Hereinbelow, a preferred embodiment of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0027] FIGS. 5 through 7 are views illustrating an optically open
stacked type subminiature optical device according to an embodiment
of the present invention, in which FIG. 5 is a sectional view, FIG.
6 is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. 7 is a perspective
projection view showing the installation of an aperture stop
structure in the assembled optical device.
[0028] As shown in the drawings, the optically open stacked type
subminiature optical device according to the embodiment of the
present invention includes: a light source 520 and a light
receiving sensor 530 which are separately installed on a PCB 510; a
darkroom structure 540 which is installed on PCB 510 in such a way
that the darkroom structure can cover the light receiving sensor
530; a composite lens and prism structure 550 which is stacked on
the upper end of the darkroom structure 540 and condenses light
radiated from the light source 520 onto an objective plane 571, and
condenses the light reflected by the objective plane 571 onto the
light receiving sensor 530; a cover structure 570 which is made of
a semitransparent material and forms the objective plane 571 and is
mounted on the PCB 510 in such a way that the cover structure can
cover both the composite lens and prism structure 550 and the
darkroom structure 540; and an aperture structure 560 which is
stacked on the upper end of the composite lens and prism structure
550 inside the cover structure 570 and intercepts light diffused
from the objective plane 571.
[0029] Particularly, the aperture structure 560 includes open holes
561 and 563, through which both the light passing through the
composite lens and prism structure 550 and the light reflected by
the. objective plane 571 can pass.
[0030] The above-mentioned important parts of the present invention
will be sequentially described in detail hereinbelow.
[0031] First, the PCB 510 is a base part, on which the parts
constituting the optical device of the present invention are
assembled into an integrated structure. The PCB 510 is electrically
connected to the light source 520 and to the light receiving sensor
530, with a variety of required electronic devices being installed
on the PCB. In FIG. 6, the reference numeral 512 denotes an FPCB
which is electrically connected to an external circuit.
[0032] The light source 520 is an LED light source 520, which has a
chip shape and is installed on the PCB 510. The light source 520
may use a variety of LEDs having different colors as desired
without being limited to specific colors. Further, the light source
520 may use a variety of light emitting devices, such as laser
diodes (LD) and lamp-type devices, in addition to LEDs.
[0033] The light receiving sensor 530 is a light receiving sensor
which can receive the light sequentially passing through the
aperture structure 560, the composite lens and prism structure 550
and the darkroom structure 540 after being reflected by the
objective plane 571. The light receiving sensor 530 may be mounted
on the PCB 510 by a wire bonding process or a flip chip bonding
process.
[0034] The darkroom structure 540 is configured to execute both a
sensor protecting function and an aperture function. In order to
realize the above-mentioned object, the darkroom structure has a
cap structure capable of sealing and protecting the light receiving
sensor 530, with a light receiving hole 543 being formed in the
darkroom structure so as to pass the light thrown on the light
receiving sensor 530 therethrough. Here, the darkroom structure 540
may be configured such that the light source 520 can be installed
in a space inside the darkroom structure or on a side of the
darkroom structure. However, it should be understood that, even in
this case, it is required to optically separate the light receiving
sensor 530 from the light source 520.
[0035] In order to optically or electrically separate the light
source 520 from the light receiving sensor 530, it is preferred
that the darkroom structure 540 be made of an opaque synthetic
resin material.
[0036] Further, the darkroom structure 540 isolates the light
receiving sensor 530 from the light source 520 and is provided with
a light intercepting rib 545 for intercepting the light, which has
been radiated from the light source 520 and has been diffused to be
thrown on the light receiving sensor 530. Here, it is preferred
that the light intercepting rib 545 be configured to protrude
upwards at a location between the light receiving hole 543 and the
location of the light source 520. However, it should be understood
that the light intercepting rib 545 may be variously designed
without being limited to the above-mentioned structure if the light
intercepting rib 545 can effectively intercept the light radiated
from the light source 520 inside and outside the darkroom structure
540.
[0037] Further, it is preferred that bosses 547 protrude on the
upper surface of the darkroom structure 540 at locations opposite
to the light intercepting rib 545 based on the light receiving hole
543 such that the bosses 547 can be combined with the composite
lens and prism structure 550.
[0038] The composite lens and prism structure 550 includes a
condensing prism 551, which condenses the light radiated from the
light source 520 onto the objective plane 571, and an imaging lens
553, which throws the light, reflected by the material that is in
contact with the objective plane 571, on the light receiving sensor
530.
[0039] The composite lens and prism structure 550 is preferably
configured such that the condensing prism 551 and the imaging lens
553 are integrated with a single plate structure into a single
structure. Formed at a location between the condensing prism 551
and the imaging lens 553 is a rib locking hole 555, into which the
light intercepting rib 545 of the darkroom structure 540 is
inserted and locked. Here, the light intercepting rib 545 functions
to stably lock the darkroom structure 540 to the composite lens and
prism structure 550 and, at the same time, functions to optically
isolate the condensing prism 551 from the imaging lens 553.
[0040] Further, the composite lens and prism structure 550 is
provided with holes 557, into which the respective bosses 547 of
the darkroom structure 540 are inserted, and with a locking boss
559, which protrudes upwards and is combined with the aperture
structure 560.
[0041] The internal of the aperture structure 560 has a structure
that selectively intercepts light. The aperture structure 560 is
capable of realizing an external shape of the optically open
stacked type optical device and is configured to intercept the
diffused light from the objective plane 571.
[0042] The aperture structure 560 is a plate structure having a
predetermined thickness and is stacked along with the composite
lens and prism structure 550 inside the cover structure 570. Here,
the aperture structure 560 may be made of one of silicone, epoxy
and synthetic resin or made of a mixture prepared by mixing at
least two of these materials. Of course, the aperture structure 560
may be made of a variety of materials without being limited to the
above-mentioned materials so long as the materials can intercept
light and can realize the function as an aperture and can be stably
assembled inside the cover structure 570.
[0043] Particularly, the aperture structure 560 has a first hole
561, which has an open structure capable of allowing the light
passing through the condensing prism 551 of the composite lens and
prism structure 550 to be received by the objective plane 571, and
a second hole 563, which is formed at a location spaced apart from
the first hole 561 and defines an aperture stop at the location
above the imaging lens 553 of the composite lens and prism
structure 550.
[0044] Here, the second hole 563 may be configured to have a
circular structure, while the first hole 561 may be configured to
have a general rectangular shape.
[0045] Described in detail, the composite lens and prism structure
554 is provided with a rectangular structure 560a in the form of a
hole or a recess in the central portion thereof for defining both
the second hole 563 and the first hole 561. The rectangular
structure 560a is open in one side, thus defining the first hole
561, and is configured as a closed structure 560b in the other
side, thus defining the second hole 563 in the center. Further, it
is preferred that, in the closed structure 560b, a portion located
around the first hole 561 be configured as an inclined structure
560c capable of allowing the light to be effectively thrown on the
objective plane placed above the second hole 563 through the first
hole 561.
[0046] Further, the aperture structure 560 is configured such that
it can be assembled with the composite lens and prism structure
550. Therefore, in the aperture structure 560, a locking hole 569
is formed to be combined with the locking boss 559 of the composite
lens and prism structure 550. Here, the numbers and locations of
both the locking boss 559 and the locking hole 569 may be
appropriately changed according to practice conditions.
[0047] Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, an inclined reflective
surface 551a is formed in the back surface of the condensing prism
551 of the composite lens and prism structure 550. Further, the
aperture structure 560 is provided with an inclined protrusion
560d, which inclinedly protrudes to stably support the inclined
reflective surface 551a in a state in which the inclined protrusion
560d is in contact with the inclined reflective surface 551a.
[0048] The cover structure 570 has a cap structure capable of
protecting the darkroom structure 540, the composite lens and prism
structure 550 and the aperture structure 560 therein. The cover
structure 570 has a lower flange 573, which is mounted on the PCB
510.
[0049] Particularly, the cover structure 570 is made of a
semitransparent material in at least the upper surface thereof,
thus allowing the light to pass therethrough and realizing a design
of the external shape of the optically open stacked type optical
device. The objective plane 571 defined in the upper surface of the
cover structure 570 may be configured as a window made of a
transparent acrylic material so that, when an external material
comes into contact the objective plane 571, the objective plane 571
can reflect the light from the light source 520 to the light
receiving sensor 530.
[0050] In the above-mentioned optically open stacked type
subminiature optical device according to the embodiment of the
present invention, the PCB 510, the darkroom structure 540, the
composite lens and prism structure 550 and the aperture structure
560 are sequentially stacked from the lower end to form an assembly
and, thereafter, the assembly is covered with the cover structure
570, thus producing an integrated optically open stacked type
subminiature optical device.
[0051] Particularly, the bosses 547 of the darkroom structure 540
are inserted into the respective holes 557 of the composite lens
and prism structure 550 and the locking boss 559 of the composite
lens and prism structure 550 is inserted into the locking hole 569
of the aperture structure 560, so that the load imposed on the PCB
510 from the interior structures can be minimized, thus preventing
damage to the PCB 510 and preventing a reduction in the assembly
work efficiency and realizing a free design of the PCB. Further,
the darkroom structure 540, the composite lens and prism structure
550 and the aperture structure 560 are assembled with each other
into an integrated structure, so that it is possible to easily
assemble the interior parts with each other into the integrated
structure and to minimize the assembly error, such as movement of
the parts, after assembling the parts, thereby realizing a stable
assembly structure.
[0052] Further, FIG. 8 illustrates the incidence of ambient
diffused light 520 from the outside into the interior of the cover
structure 570 when constructing the cover structure 570 having the
optically open stacked structure without using the above-mentioned
aperture structure 560.
[0053] However, in the present invention, because the cover
structure 570 having the optically open stacked structure is
provided with the aperture structure 560 therein, it is possible to
intercept the diffused light from the objective plane 571.
Therefore, the present invention can realize the optical device
designed in the form of the optically open stacked structure and
having reliable optical performance.
[0054] The technical scope and spirit described in the
above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention may be
independently embodied or may be combined with each other prior to
being embodied. Further, although the embodiment of the present
invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those
skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications,
additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from
the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the
accompanying claims.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0055] As described above, the optically open stacked type
subminiature optical device according to the present invention can
be used as a subminiature optical sensor module in a subminiature
pointing device, an input device and a subminiature fingerprint
verification device.
[0056] In other words, the optically open stacked type subminiature
optical device according to the present invention can be embedded
in a variety of mobile digital instruments, such as a notebook
computer or an UMPC, in addition to a mobile communication terminal
and can realize a highly efficient pointing function inside a
limited space, so that the optical device can be effectively used
with wire or wireless keyboards, in which subminiature highly
efficient pointing devices must be embedded or attached. Further,
the present invention can realize a subminiature thin pointing
function, thus being effectively used as an optical device, which
can substitute for conventional input devices of mobile
communication terminals or can add pointing functions to the mobile
communication terminals. Further, the optical device of the present
invention can be used as a subminiature pointing device in a mobile
game machine. Further, the optical device of the present invention
can be used in a remote control system for the home-network
environment, thus realizing a multi-functional highly efficient
remote control system.
* * * * *